Wigginton and Contreras options declined, Ruiz renewed for 2013

If the Philadelphia region survives the onslaught from Hurricane Sandy, Carlos Ruiz will be the Phillies starting catcher in 2013. The team declined options on Ty Wigginton and Jose Contreras, opting to buy out their contracts. A similar fate is expected for Placido Polanco. Juan Pierre and Brian Schneider were granted Free Agency.

From the Phillies:

The Phillies picked up the $5 million club option on [Ruiz’s] contract for next season. The Phillies had a $500,000 buyout, but there was no way they were going to take that. Ruiz hit .325 with 32 doubles, 16 home runs, 68 RBIs and a .935 OPS in 114 games this season.

The Phillies also have club options for Jose Contreras ($2.5 million or $500,000 buyout) and Ty Wigginton ($4 million or $500,000 buyout), and a $5.5 million mutual option (or a $500,000 buyout) with Placido Polanco. The Phillies are expected to take the buyouts for each of those players.

Juan Pierre and Brian Schneider also became free agents, although neither is likely to be back in Philadelphia.

Sorry for such a short, nondescript mention of these roster moves. But, I felt it necessary to inform you all of this even under more important circumstances.

Polly got nixed as well. Not surprising at 5.5 mil. Personally, I don’t think Ruben will rush to sign him at a reduced rate to the point where he doesn’t have a chance to shop his services. Nobody will rush to sign him, but come January, maybe his market gets a little warm, and we’ll see if Ruben thinks he’s worth a mil or so. If it’s over, which I kinda doubt, it was a terrific run.

These were all moves that needed to be made. Pierre might be good on a budget contract, but that probably won’t happen because some other team will bid for his services, The Phils need outfield space to try out some new players. I just hope they find someone who can do the job.

I just didnt see the sense in Polly’s state to resign him for that amount. Even for RAJ this would of been a questionable move. Now if RAJ finds himself desperate enough he may put a bid on Polly and try to bring him back at a cheaper rate. Then again Polly may never play again who knows. Im pretty sure Polanco days as a everyday starting 3B/2B is past.

They’ve also declined the option on Polly’s contract. With these moves, 33 players are on the 40-man roster. They have 21 days to protect up to four to seven players from being susceptible to the Rule 5 Draft.

By Ty!! Whatever you do RAJ, no more immobile, lackluster, can’t-hit-a-breaking-ball-to-save-his-life utility players like Wigginton! As much as I like Polly and his professionalism, I won’t miss his stints on the DL! And to think the Phils could have signed Beltre in the same off-season that they signed Polly…YIKES!! Not a great decision by Rube!!

You are wrong on that Beltre complaint. Amaro offered Beltre a rather hefty 3 year contract,(probably more than he was worth given at the time) but Beltre decided instead to go with a one year deal in hopes of getting an even bigger contract later. In other words, Amaro had NO CHANCE of signing Beltre.

I also wonder who you’d suggest as a utility player. Most of those types are either immobile (if they’re 1st basemen), lackluster, and can’t hit breaking balls or even fastballs. Sometimes it’s all of the above. That’s why they’re utility players. Once in a while, you get a defensive replacement, but they’re usually the biggest non-hitters of them all.